Durga Puja

Durga Puja, conventionally, in the ancient times, was held during spring. Known as Basanti Puja today, it has lost much of its glamour and gaiety to the autumnal Durga Puja, known since the time of Ramayana as Akal Bodhan, an untimely invocation of Goddes Durga, Durgatinashini.

It is celebrated every year in the Hindu month of Ashwin (September-October) and commemorates Rama’s invocation of the goddess before going to war with the demon king Ravana. Lord Rama invoked the Goddess to seek blessings from Mahisasurmardini, the slayer of the buffalo-demon, and worshipped the deity with his offering of 108 blue lotuses and lighting of 108 lamps.

Mahalaya marks the day of Devi Durga’s descent to the earth. It is the first day of the ten-day long festivities of fast, feast and worship that ends on the tenth day, called Vijaya Dashami, when the Goddess is bid adieu and the idol immersed in the river. This period, of fifteen days, continuing till Lakshmi Puja, the Goddess of Wealth being worshipped on the Full Moon day, is known as Devi Paksha.Mahalaya falls on Amavasya, the autumnal New Moon day, the last day of Pitru Paksha, the fortnight of the departed souls of the ancestors. According to Hindu mythology, the souls of three preceding generations of one’s ancestor reside in Pitru–loka, a realm between heaven and earth. This realm is governed by Yama, the god of death, who takes the soul of a dying man from earth to Pitru–loka. When a person of the next generation dies, the first generation shifts to heaven and unites with God, so Shraddha offerings are not given. Thus, only the three generations in Pitru–loka are given Shraddha rites, in which Yama plays a significant role. According to the sacred Hindu scriptures, at the beginning of Pitru Paksha, the sun enters the zodiac sign of Virgo (Kanya). Coinciding with this moment, it is believed that the spirits leave Pitru–loka and reside in their descendants’ homes for a month until the sun enters the next zodiac—Scorpio (Vrichchhika)—and there is a full moon. Hindus are expected to propitiate the ancestors in the first half, during the dark fortnight.

When the legendary donor Karna died in the epic Mahabharata war, his soul transcended to heaven, where he was offered gold and jewels as food. However, Karna needed real food to eat and asked Indra, the lord of heaven, the reason for serving gold as food. Indra told Karna that he had donated gold all his life, but had never donated food to his ancestors in Shraddha. Karna said that since he was unaware of his ancestors, he never donated anything in their memory. To make amends, Karna was permitted to return to earth for a 15–day period, so that he could perform Shraddha and donate food and water in their memory. This period is now known as Pitru Paksha. In some legends, Yama replaces Indra.

Pitru Paksha is considered by Hindus to be inauspicious, given the death rites performed during the ceremony, known as Shraddha or tarpan. In southern and western India, it falls in the Hindu lunar month of Bhadrapada (September–October), beginning with the full moon day (Purnima) that occurs immediately after the Ganesh festival and ending with the new moon day known as Sarvapitri amavasya, Mahalaya amavasya or simply Mahalaya. In North India and Nepal, this period corresponds to the dark fortnight of the month Ashwin, instead of Bhadrapada.

We all live difficult life and very often we’re trap in situation that produce in Us in general negative energy. There are thousands of diversity problems that comes up in every single life and try to put the people in big depressions, isolation even illness.
In India one of d oldest if not d older civilizations in d world d citizens celebrate „Diwali“ that is day when all of them visit the temples and light a candle for their good in more levels. Their believes are that d divine light of Diwali will spread into ur life peace, prosperity, happiness, loads of wealth and good health.

In wikipedia for Diwali we can find that is popularly known as the “festival of lights”, is celebrated between mid-October and mid-November for different reasons. For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. The festival is celebrated for five continuous days, where the third days is celebrated as the main Diwali festival or ‘Festival of lights’. Different colorful varieties of fireworks are always associated with this festival. On this auspicious day, people light up diyas and candles all around their house.

The name “Diwali” is a contraction of “Deepavali” (दीपावली Dīpāvalī), which translates into “row of lamps”. They filled d candles with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. he festival od Diwali is never complete without exchange of gifts. People present diwali gifts to all near and dear ones. Giving gifts has always been an important ritual of the festival of Dipavali. As is customary, Divali gifts are an acknowledgement of love and affection that we give to our loved ones. After Dipavali Pujan and before lighting the crackers, gifts are exchanged among friends, acquaintances and family. Everyone competes for the best or the most number of gifts.

The exact day of the festival is decided by the position of the moon. According to the Hindu calendar, Amavasya or ‘no moon day’ is considered as the perfect day to celebrate Diwali. This dark night comes after every fortnight and in the month of Kartik, it marks this festival of lights and diyas. As per the regular European calendar, the festival generally comes in the month of November and December. For all Hindu people, the festival holds an imperative meaning since the festival is reckoned with Lord Rama’s victory as the King of Ayodhya after his return to the kingdom from 14 years of exile along with his wife Sita & brother Laxman after killing the demon, King Ravana. The festival is celebrated by lighting diyas and candles to drive away the darkness of Amavasya.

As a follower of d Hindu path I made small celebration in my house also. With Diwali bhajan for less then minute my house become a small warm Krishna temple. ..I made few cards, there were some cookies from India, bit of candles and nag champa incense .. It’s not my first time to make some ceremony for Hindu holidays.. but this one was the first that helps me to rebuild my small temple after I return from France.